BPG_Helsinki

Accommodation

Hotels in Finland have a well-deserved reputation for cleanliness, a wide range of facilities, good service and comfortable, albeit rather small, rooms, regardless of their price category. Official hotel ratings are not used in Finland, but the vast majority of hotels would be considered to be in the three- or four-star class. They do tend to be expensive for the facilities provided, although if you are patient, there are bargains to be had. Discounts are often available at weekends and in summer, when hotels lose their business and conference trade.

Most Helsinki options are international (Hilton, Radisson) or Finnish chain hotels, comfortable but unremarkable. Finnish chains include Best Western Finland (tel: 0800-12010, www.bestwestern.fi), Cumulus (tel: 09-73352, www.cumulus.fi), Finlandia Hotels (tel: 09 684 1440, www.finlandiahotels.fi), the Palace Kämp group (tel: 020 770 4705, http://www.kampcollectionhotels.com/), Scandic Hotels (tel: +46 8 517 517 20, www.scandichotels.fi), Sokos Hotels (tel: 020 1234 600, www.sokoshotels.fi), and the budget Omena Hotels (tel: 0600 555 222, www.omenahotels.com), who keep costs low by not having reception staff.

Most Helsinki hotels are in the centre of town in an almost rectangular area between Central Railway Station in the north, Esplanadi in the south, Mannerheimintie to the west and Senate Square and Market Hall to the east. There are a couple of larger ones along Mannerheimintie, overlooking Töölönlahti Bay and near Hakaniemi Market.

Helsinki Expert has a hotel booking service at the railway station (tel: 09 2288 1600) and at the main tourist office (Pohjoisesplanadi 19; tel: 09 2288 1500).

For something more homey, Helsinki Bed and Breakfast (Vellamonkatu 12-14 B 32, tel: 050 5849054; http://en.hbb.fi) can fix you up with a comfortable B&B room or private apartment.

The website Visit Helsinki (www.visithelsinki.fi) keeps an up-to-date list of accommodation options.

Airports

Finland’s main international airport, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (www.helsinki-vantaa.fi), is a modern facility with an excellent range of services located about 20km (12 miles) north of Helsinki city centre. It is connected by the Finnair City Bus (€6.70) and local bus (€5) to Helsinki. Travel time is approximately 35 minutes. The Finnair bus stops at many of the major hotels on the way from the airport to the city centre, but only picks up at the central railway station and the Hesperia Park bus stop on the reverse route. The train to the city takes about 30 minutes; the route is serviced by two lines: I and P (€5). There is also a “shared” taxi stand at the airport. Expect to pay around €50 for a taxi to any destination in the city centre.

Bicycle Rental

Bicycles are a practical and fun means of transport in Helsinki: the city has several hundred miles of well-maintained cycle paths. A good year-round hire shop is Bicyclean Helsinki Katajanokka (Luotsikatu 14; tel: 044 2915 331; May–Sept Mon noon–7pm, Tues–Sun 9am–7pm, Oct–Apr Mon noon–6pm, Tues–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 10am–4pm; www.bicycleanhelsinki.com). Prices start from €20 per day.

Budgeting for Your Trip

Flights to Finland vary according to departure airport, carrier and time of year, but you can expect to pay around €120 to €200 for a return London−Helsinki flight in July in economy class.

Compared to other countries in Europe, Finland is expensive. A dorm bed in a youth hostel costs around €20, while a hotel room is likely to cost upwards of €100 per night.

Many lunch places offer a good-value meal deal costing around €10, which usually includes a main course, plus salad or soup, bread and coffee. Otherwise, dining out is expensive. A three-course meal without wine at a mid-level restaurant costs around €50. Alcohol in a restaurant is equally pricey, with a 0.33 litre glass of beer costing around €7, and a small glass of wine from €8 upwards. Many bars and restaurants have a “wardrobe” charge of around €3, which you’ll have to pay whether you have a coat on or not. Groceries tend to be around the EU average.

Museum entrance usually costs between €6 and €12.

Those on a budget can enjoy the city’s unusual architecture, wandering streets such as the Art-Nouveau Luotsikatu, or visiting Kamppi Chapel of Silence or Helsinki Music Centre. Suomenlinna makes a cheap day trip – you can visit this extraordinary island for the price of a local-transport ticket (€5). Cheap places to eat include the coffee tents in Helsinki’s market squares, while late at night you can find fairly inexpensive food (for example a €3 hamburger) at a grilli kiosk. Some museums offer free entry on a certain day of the month. Discounts for seniors and students are widely available.

Camping

Rastila Camping Helsinki (Karavaanikatu 4; tel: 09 310 78517; rastilacamping@hel.fi; open year-round) is a modern five-star campsite, with 80 tent and 165 caravan pitches, cabins and cottages for hire, and a summer family hostel. It’s in Vuosaari, about 15km (9 miles) east of Helsinki centre, and is easily accessed from the Rastila Metro station. Booking ahead is strongly advised in summer.

Finland has some 330 campsites. For options elsewhere in the country, see the website of the Finnish Campingsite Association (Suomen Leirintäalueyhdistys; Tulppatie 14, FI-00880 Helsinki; tel: 09 4774 0740; www.camping.fi).

Car Hire

A car is not really necessary in Helsinki. The city centre is very walkable, and the public transport system is excellent.

If you do feel in need of a car, several international agencies have outlets at the airport, and also in the centre: Avis (Malminkatu 24; tel: 010 436 2222; www.avis.fi), Europcar (Elielinaukio 5; tel: 0403 062 803; www.europcar.fi), Hertz (Runeberginkatu 5; tel: 020 555 2300; www.hertz.com), Sixt (Hilton Hotel, John Stenbergin ranta 4; tel: 020-1122553; http://fi.sixt.com).

Climate

Helsinki is actually quite mild considering its latitude. Although the North Atlantic brings cold air, the moderating influence of the warming Gulf Stream keeps the temperatures bearable. The city has four seasons. Summers are generally pleasant and mild – the brightest month is June, with 19 hours of sunlight, and the warmest is July, with an average temperature of 17.8°C (64.0°F). The air gets crisp and cold in September, as autumn approaches. Winters can be bitter: the coldest time is late January/early February, when temperatures can drop as low as –15°C (5°F) and the sea freezes over. After the chilly winter darkness, the coming of spring in April is a welcome relief.

Clothing

The weather in Helsinki is changeable – the best advice is to bring layers of clothing, regardless of the season. Finns tend to dress down, unless attending an important formal occasion. Generally you won’t feel out of place anywhere in casual clothing.

Finland can get very hot in summer. Sun block and a sun hat are a must, as is a swimsuit for the many sandy beaches around the city. However, you can’t always depend on temperate weather. Bring a raincoat, just in case; and a fleece or similar to keep off the cool evening air. Many of the city streets are cobbled, so it’s a good idea to wear sturdy walking shoes.

Helsinki is famous for its bitter winters, when decent cold-weather outer clothing is a must. Again, though, layers are key – most Finnish buildings are very well heated in winter, so you’ll want to be able to peel off once you get inside. Don’t forget to bring heavy-duty, warm footwear (preferably boots) with a good grip, as roads and pavements can be icy.

Crime and Safety

Finland is one of the safest countries in Europe, and for the most part crime will not be an issue. Occasional pickpocketing has been known on the Helsinki metro and at the main railway station. Be alert in crowded places or when using cash machines, take common-sense precautions with valuables and you will be fine.

The police in Finland generally keep a low profile. If you need to report a crime, the police station is at Pasilanraitio 13, tel: 0295 470 011 (Mon–Fri 8am–4.15pm).

Disabled Travellers

Finland has good legislation in place for disabled people, and all new buildings are legally required to have access in terms of ramps, lifts, toilets, etc. Helsinki metro is accessible for wheelchair-users, but other forms of public transport may be a bit more problematic, although some city buses “kneel”, making it easier to board, and many tram stops are raised. The state railway VR has induction loops and Braille numbering on newer trains. Assistance is available for wheelchair users by contacting VR customer services (tel: 0800 166 888, www.vr.fi). Wheelchair spaces are limited, so it’s best to reserve one ahead of time. When ordering a taxi, specify your needs.

wheelchair pyörätuoli

Is there..? Onko siellä…?

access for the disabled esteetön pääsy liikuntaesteisille

a wheelchair ramp pyörätuoliluiska

a disabled-accessible toilet invalidi-WC

Driving

Drive on the right, overtake on the left. Traffic approaching from the right has right of way. Exceptions are on roads marked by a triangle sign; if this is facing you, you must give right of way; similarly, if you are on a very major thoroughfare, it is likely that the feed-in streets will have triangles, giving you the right of way. On roundabouts, the first vehicle to reach the roundabout has right of way.

Speed limits are signposted. Generally the limit in built-up areas is 30kmph (18mph); outside built-up areas, it is usually 80kmph (50mph) unless otherwise indicated; and on motorways 100kmph (62mph) to 120kmph (75mph). In winter, motorway speeds are generally 20kmph (12mph) lower.

Use of headlights is compulsory, even during the daytime (UK cars must sweep their lights right). Wearing of seat belts is also compulsory. A hands-free mobile must be used if you intend to use the phone while driving. Snow tyres are required December to February. Never ever risk driving while drunk in Finland. The limit is very low (0.5 percent blood alcohol) and the fines very steep; imprisonment is also not unheard of.

It is compulsory to carry a warning triangle, to be used in the event of a breakdown. Hazard warning lights should only be used if your vehicle is stranded in a place where it may cause danger to other vehicles.

Is this the way to…? Meneekö tämä tie… -n/…-lle?

Can you show me on the map? Voitteko näyttää minulle kartalta?

Can I park here? Voinko pysäköidä tähän?

My car broke down/won’t start. Autoni meni epäkuntoon/ei käynnisty.

Electricity

Finland uses electricity at 220 volts AC (two-pin plug).

Embassies and Consulates

Australia: The nearest Australian embassy is in Stockholm: Klarabergsviadukten 63, 8th Floor, SE-111 64 Stockholm, tel: (46-8) 613 29 00, http://sweden.embassy.gov.au

Canada: Pohjoisesplanadi 25B, tel: 09 228 530, www.canadainternational.gc.ca

Ireland: Erottajankatu 7A, tel: 09 682 4240, www.irishembassy.fi

New Zealand: The nearest New Zealand embassy is in the Hague: Eisenhowerlaan 77N, 2517 KK The Hague, tel: 31-70 346 93 24

South Africa: Pohjoinen Makasiinikatu 4, tel: 09 6860 3100, www.dirco.gov.za/helsinki

UK: Itäinen Puistotie 17, tel: 09 2286 5100, www.gov.uk/government/world/finland

USA: Itäinen Puistotie 14B, tel: 09 616 250, https://fi.usembassy.gov/

Emergencies

The all-purpose emergency number for police, fire, ambulance and rescue services is 112. There’s also a 24-hour medical advice hotline, tel: 10 023.

Gay and Lesbian Travellers

LGBT lifestyles are readily accepted in Helsinki, though somewhat less so in smaller communities outside the capital. Helsinki has a number of gay nightlife venues. A good resource for gay-friendly bars, clubs, hotels, saunas etc. is the GayMap section of the Swedish lifestyle magazine QX (www.qx.se/gaymap). The week-long Helsinki Pride (http://helsinkipride.fi) is Finland’s largest LGBT event. It takes place at the end of June and attracts around 30,000 visitors. Seta (Pasilanraitio 5, 2nd floor, Helsinki; www.seta.fi) is an organisation that campaigns for LGBT equality.

Getting There

Finnair (www.finnair.com) is the national carrier of Finland. In cooperation with British Airways, it operates daily flights between London and Helsinki, between Manchester and Helsinki, and between Edinburgh and Helsinki. Finnair also links with several North American cities including New York. You may be able to find value-for-money package fares and charter flights from New York or London, but they are rare; try the internet sites of the airlines for offers.

Budget airline Norwegian Air (www.norwegian.com) flies year-round between London Gatwick and Helsinki.

Guides and Tours

Tram Tours. Trams are omnipresent in Helsinki. Trams No. 2 and 3 traces a figure-of-eight course around the centre of Helsinki in roughly one hour, passing many of city’s most interesting sights. The tourist office even provides a brochure, “Sightseeing on 2 and 3”, for extra self-guided information.

Visitors may find the comforts offered by the SpåraKOFF (www.raflaamo.fi/fi/helsinki/sparakoff) more attractive. This is a tram coach converted into a pub, and from its bar you can enjoy refreshments while taking a 40-minute tour of Helsinki’s main sights. Running between mid-May and the end of August, the tours start at Railway Square (Tues–Sat at 2pm, 3pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm; also in July at 8pm), but you can hop on and off at any of the stops.

Bus Tours. Panorama Sightseeing Bus Tour, which may be arranged as part of the Helsinki Card, tel: 09 2288 1600, www.helsinkicard.com, departs from the Esplanadi Park/Fabianinkatu, lasts 1.75 hours and costs €32. It provides sound effects and commentary in 12 languages, taking in all the most important and interesting sights in Helsinki. It runs at 11am year-round, plus at 1pm in June and July.

Many companies, such as Stromma (www.stromma.fi), offer the Hop-on Hop-off open-top bus tours, which depart daily from Senate Square from May to September every 30 to 45 minutes.

Architecture Tours. The tourist office has a free Jugend Helsinki brochure and an Architecture Map for sale: armed with these two leaflets, you can be your own tour guide to Helsinki’s architectural gems. The No. 4 tram also takes you past some interesting buildings, starting from Art-Nouveau-rich Katajanokka and ending in Munkkiniemi.

Architecture buffs should contact Archtours (tel: 010 2350 560), a travel agency specialising in tailor-made architecture tours.

Wildlife and Adventure Tours. Natura Viva (tel: 010 292 4030; www.naturaviva.fi) offers guided kayaking trips in the Helsinki archipelago.

If you’re here in winter, Outdoor Helsinki (tel: 40 53 52 046; www.outdoorhelsinki.fi) can take you skating on the frozen sea, amongst other icy activities.

Both companies offer tours to Nuuksio National Park, just 40km (25 miles) from Helsinki.

Health and Medical Care

Finland is a very safe country with an excellent health service. Visitors from the EEA are covered for emergency medical treatment on presentation of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); take your passport along as well as ID. There is usually a nominal charge for treatment: a visit to a public health centre will cost between €16 and €30, while an overnight hospital stay will cost around €35. Almost any terveysasema (public health centre) or sairaala (hospital) will treat you.

Non-EEA visitors should arrange health insurance before travelling.

Some pharmacies (Apteekki) have late opening hours. In Helsinki, the pharmacy at Mannerheimintie 96, tel. 0300-20 200, has 24-hour service. You can also get round-the-clock medical advice by phoning 09-10023.

Tap water is exceptionally clean and safe to drink.

I’m sick. Olen sairas.

I need an English-speaking doctor. Tarvitsen lääkärin, joka puhuu englantia.

It hurts here. Tähän sattuu.

Internet Access

The city of Helsinki has a free Wi-Fi network with non-passworded hotspots around the city centre (eg. Kluuvi and Kamppi shopping centres, the railway station, Esplanadi). Most hotels also offer free Wi-Fi.

Language

The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish, spoken by 89 percent and 5 percent of the population respectively.

Most people speak almost perfect English, so you will have no language problems, but mastering a few basic words is always appreciated (see cover flap for Essentials Expressions in Finnish).

Media

Newspapers. The Finns are avid devourers of news, and are third in the world for newspaper-readers. The best-selling papers are the Finnish Helsingin Sanomat and the tabloid Ilta-Sanomat. The largest Swedish-language paper is Hufvudstadsbladet.

English-language newspapers usually appear a day or two after UK publication, and can be found in the Central Railway Station, the airport and at least two bookstores (Suomalainen Kirjakauppa at Aleksanterinkatu 23, and Akateeminen Kirjakauppa at Pohjoisesplanadi 39).

Television and Radio. The Finnish national broadcasting service Yle operates four television channels, six national radio stations, and 25 regional radio stations. Short English-language news bulletins can be heard on Yle Mondo (97.5 FM in the Helsinki region) at 3.30pm (Mon to Fri) and 3.29pm (Sat and Sun), and also daily at 3.55pm on YLE Radio 1 (87.9 FM in the Helsinki region). The BBC’s World Service and other English-language television channels are usually available in hotels.

Money

The Finnish currency is the euro (€), which consists of 100 cents. Bank notes are in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500, and there are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins as well as €1 and €2 coins. One- and two-cent coins are not widely used: prices are usually rounded off to the nearest 5.

It’s generally easiest to use ATMs or pay with debit or credit cards as you would at home. If you need to exchange money, there are many currency exchange points in Helsinki:

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport: Currency Change Group (tel 09 6940 258) have exchanges in arrival halls 2A (open daily 6am–9pm) and 2B (open daily 7.45am–11pm), and at some gates (15, 26, 32)

Railway Station: Forex (tel: 09 417 1017; Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 9am–7pm, Sun 9.30am–5pm) and Tavex (Asematunneli; tel: 09 681 49 149; Mon–Fri 10am–6pm)

Stockmann department store also has a currency exchange (8th floor, Aleksanterinkatu 52B; open Mon–Fri 9am–9pm, Sat 9am–7pm, Sun 11–6pm)

Other places in central Helsinki: Forex (Kauppakeskus Itis Itäkatu 1b, floor -1; tel: 09 417 10385; Mon–Fri 8am–9pm, Sat 9am–7pm, Sun noon–6pm) and Tavex (Fabianinkatu 12; tel: 09 681 49 149; Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat 10am–4pm)

Opening Times

Banks are open Monday to Friday 9.15am–4.15pm.

Museums are usually closed on Mondays.

Shops are usually open Monday to Friday 9am–5pm, Saturday 9am–3pm. Some of the bigger department stores and supermarkets stay open until 9pm Monday to Friday and until 6pm on Saturday. Most stores are closed on Sunday, except for those under the Helsinki Railway Station, some in the Forum shopping mall and some on the Esplanadi.

Police

Helsinki Police Department is located at Pasilanraitio 1, tel: 0295 470 011. Its lost-and-found department is open Mon–Fri 9am–1pm.

The emergency-only number for police, fire, ambulance and rescue services is 112.

Post Offices

The main post office is at Elielinaukio 2F (tel: 0200 71000; open Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat–Sun 10am–2pm).

Mail boxes for second-class post are bright orange and widely available. Mail boxes for first-class post are bright blue and less commonly found.

Public Holidays

Fixed dates:

1 January Uudenvuoden päivä New Year’s Day

6 January Loppiainen Twelfth Day

1 May Vapunpäivä May Day

6 December Itsenäisyyspäivä Independence Day

24 December Jouluaatto Christmas Eve

25 December Joulupäivä Christmas Day

26 December Tapaninpäiv Boxing Day

Moveable dates:

Late March/April Pitkäperjantai Good Friday

Late March/April Pääsiäinen Easter

Late May Helatorstai Ascension Day

End May/June Helluntai Whitsun

Late June Juhannus Midsummer’s Day

Early November Pyhäinpäivä All Saints’ Day

Religion

The Lutheran Church is the state Church of Finland, with 72 percent of Finns counted as Lutherans. There is a small Greek Orthodox population, and just two Catholic churches in Finland.

In Helsinki, services in English are held at the Rock Church on Lutherinkatu (for more information, click here); there are both Lutheran and ecumenical services here. There is also one synagogue and one mosque in Helsinki, for those of Jewish or Muslim faith.

As in all places of worship, visitors should dress modestly and behave appropriately.

Telephones

Calls to Finland: Dial the international code (00 in Europe, 011 in the US and Canada), then the country code (358), then the town or city area code without the initial zero, then the number of the person you are contacting.

Town/city codes: Helsinki 09; Porvoo 019; Tampere 03; Turku 02. To call Tallinn, Estonia, dial the country code 372 before the telephone number.

Calls in Finland: Dial the town/city code and the number of the person you are contacting. For directory enquiries, dial 020202. For overseas call assistance, dial 020208. For information on mobile phones, dial 9800-7000. The few remaining public phone boxes are all card-operated. Hotels usually add surcharges for telephone calls made from your room.

Calls abroad from Finland: Dial 00, then the country code and number, omitting any initial 0 (for example, 00-44 for the UK; 00-1 for US numbers).

Mobile phones: The country is covered by the 900/1800 Mhz GSM network. Most European phones are compatible, although your phone must be unlocked in order to link up with the network. US phones work on a slightly different frequency, so US visitors should check with their phone company first regarding usability. As of 2017, EU roaming charges have been abolished so if you are living in the UK you will not be charged extra for using your data allowance in Finland.

SIM cards: The cheapest way to make calls while in Finland is to buy a prepaid Finnish SIM card and use that in your own mobile phone. For around €10 you can get a SIM card with a Finnish number and €7-worth of talk time. The cards (and refills) can be picked up at any R-Kioski shop. You can also buy prepaid micro SIM cards that can be used in devices such as iPads.

Time Zones

Finland is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (USA).

Tipping

Tipping is not common in Finland. Service charges are included in hotel rates, and in restaurant and taxi prices, so tips are not expected. However, if you have had particularly good service, a tip never goes amiss!

Toilets

There are 36 automated public toilets throughout Helsinki which cost 50 cents to use; for example, near the Old Market Hall and in Esplanadi.

Men’s (Miehet) and women’s (Naiset) toilets are usually distinguished by symbols.

Tourist Information

The very helpful Helsinki City Tourist Information (Pohjoisesplanadi 19, tel: 09 3101 3300, open mid-May–mid-Sept Mon–Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 9am–4pm; mid-Sept–mid-May Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat–Sun 10am–4pm; www.visithelsinki.fi) will provide you with all the maps, brochures and information that you need to explore the city. There’s a smaller branch inside the Central Railway Station (open June–Aug daily 9am–5pm, May and Sept Mon–Fri 9am–4pm, Sat 10am–4pm, Oct–Apr Mon-Fri 9am–3pm, Sat 10am–2pm). In summer, the Info Container information booth pops up by the Havis Amanda fountain, next to Market Square, and Helsinki Helper tourist guides roam the city-centre streets and cruise-ship harbours looking for lost-looking visitors.

You’ll find more general information on Finland as a whole from the Finnish Tourist Board’s website Visit Finland (www.visitfinland.com).

Helsinki Card. The Helsinki Card allows free admission to almost 50 museums and attractions, free travel on public transport in Helsinki (just beep your Helsinki card on the card reader), free travel on the ferry/waterbus to Suomenlinna and Korkeasaari, a free, guided city bus or boat tour, a guide book with maps in five languages, and discounts in some stores and restaurants. It can be purchased online at www.helsinkicard.com, or in person from the tourist office and kiosks and from most hotels. It costs €46 for one day, €56 for two days and €66 for three days, with prices for children (aged 7–16) being €23, €23 and €28 respectively (2017 rates).

Other Tourist Offices:

Fiskars Info is at Fiskarsintie 9, tel: 019 277 7504, www.fiskarsvillage.fi. The community-run information is open year-round Mon–Fri 8am–4pm.

Porvoo City Tourist Office is at Läntinen Aleksanterinkatu 1, tel: 040 489 9801, www.porvoo.fi. The office is open Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat 11am–4pm.

Tampere Tourist Office is at Hämeenkatu 14B (inside the theatre building), tel: 03 5656 6800, www.visittampere.fi. It is open June–Aug Mon–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat–Sun 10am–5pm, Sept–May Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, Sat 10am–3pm.

Turku Tourist Office is at Aurakatu 4, tel: 02 262 7444, www.visitturku.fi. It is open Apr–Sept Mon–Fri 8.30am–6pm, Sat–Sun 9am–4pm; Oct–Mar Mon–Fri 8.30am–6pm, Sat–Sun 10am–3pm.

Tallinn Tourist Information Centre is at Niguliste 2/Kullassepa 4, tel: + 372 645 7777, www.tourism.tallinn.ee. It is open June–Aug Mon–Fri 9am–7pm, Sat–Sun 9am–7pm, Sept, Apr–May Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat–Sun 9am–4pm, Jan–Mar, Oct 9am–5pm, Sat–Sun 9am–3pm.

Transport

Taxis. All taxis have a yellow Taksi/Taxi sign, which, when illuminated, indicates the taxi is vacant. Taxis can be hailed in the street, or there are numerous taxi stands, for instance at Central Railway Station, Senate Square, Esplanade Park and the ferry terminals. To pre-book a taxi, dial 0100 0700) The cost of an advance order is €7.10; this will be added to the fare shown on the meter. The basic day rate (2017 rates) is €5.90, with the increments per kilometre, depending on the number of passengers.

Trams, Buses and Metro. Helsinki’s efficient, integrated public transport system is operated by Helsinki City Transport (HSL), www.hsl.fi. Individual tram tickets can be bought from the driver for €3.20 or prepaid at ticket machines for €2.50. For the other forms of transport tickets cost €2.90 from a machine. A combined ticket, valid on trams, buses and the metro, costs €9/13.50/18/22.50/27/31.50/36 for one/two/three/four/five/six/seven days. All forms of transport are free for holders of the Helsinki Card (for more information, click here). Most buses and trams run from around 6am until 1am.

The metro system mainly serves to take commuters to and from the suburbs. Trams are much more convenient for seeing Helsinki’s sights.

Visa and Entry Requirements

Passports and Visas. Citizens belonging to Schengen member states can enter Finland simply with a valid ID card. Most other Western countries, including Ireland, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, do not need visas to travel to Finland – a passport will suffice, as long as it has been issued within the last 10 years and will remain valid for three months after leaving Finland. Citizens of South Africa do need to obtain a visa before travel from the Embassy of Finland in Pretoria (P.O. Box 443, Pretoria 0001, Republic of South Africa, tel: +27-12-343 0275; www.finland.org.za), and must also have a valid passport, as above.

If you are in any doubt, check the visa requirements on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Finland (Ulkoasiainministeriö; http://formin.finland.fi).

Youth Hostels

Hostelling International Finland (Suomen Retkeilymajajärjestö, SRM; Yrjönkatu 38B 15, 2nd Flr, 00100 Helsinki, tel: 09-565 7150, www.hostellit.fi) oversees three hotels in Helsinki. These are:

Eurohostel (Linnankatu 9, tel: 09-622 0470; www.eurohostel.fi) Next to the Katajanokka ferry terminal. 135 beds. Facilities include launderettes, sauna and café.

Hostel Academica (Hietaniemenkatu 14, tel: 09-1311 4334; www.hostelacademica.fi) Summer-only hostel with 229 small, modern single and twin rooms with their own shower and kitchenette. Residential but central location.

Hostel Suomenlinna (Suomenlinna C 9, tel: 09 684 7471; www.hostelhelsinki.fi) In a stunning location within the Suomenlinna Fortress. Sleeps 40 in dorms and three private rooms.